From time to time on T-shirts, and even directly on the bodies in the form of tattoos, no, no, and the strange abbreviation ASAB will flash. What kind of abbreviation is this, reminiscent of either the name of a football club, or the designation of a Middle East terrorist organization? What does it have to do with our realities and why is it gaining popularity in Russia and other neighboring countries?
Original English transcript
Firstly, this abbreviation does not consist of Cyrillic letters. "All Cops Are Bastards!" - residents of English-speaking countries who are always dissatisfied with the actions of law enforcement agencies categorically affirm. Not all, of course, but only those who had a bad experience with the police. Having pricked on the chest, back or arms (as an option, on the fingers, by letter on each, except for the big one) the “terrible” abbreviation, football fans, students burning cars and hooligans breaking windows, express their disagreement with the policy of the authorities, who do not give them " unfold to the fullest." So, we can say about ASAB that this is a cry from the heart of rebels oppressed by the police. “All cops (they are cops, they are"Pharaohs", they are also "cops") - bad people "- this is how these four English letters "Ai-Ci-Ai-B" are deciphered. But there are other options…
From the point of view of the police themselves
Knowing how ASAB stands for, one would assume that American cops and British "bobbies" when they see this inscription, are terribly upset or, in extreme cases, terribly angry. It is possible that some representatives of law enforcement agencies react in this way, but for the most part, Western "cops" are not as stupid as their eternal opponents, violators of the law, think (not without reason this word has a common root with "mentality", that is, mind or thinking). And a smart person considers humor to be the best answer to any rudeness. The British police have their own opinion about what ASAB means. "All Cops Are Beautiful", for example, which literally means: "All police officers are beautiful." Or “Always Carry A Bible” - “The Bible is always with me.”
ACAB in art
In 2012, a very good Italian-French film "ASAV" was released. Filmed by director Solim, the tape tells about the problem of relations between law enforcement agencies and the rest of society, revealing it, as it were, “from the inside”. The main character is a policeman, and not a simple one, but from a special unit, an analogue of our OMON. This painting added to the popularity of the four-letter abbreviation. The main advantage of the film is its honesty, although sometimes the scenes of violence overflow.
Can you say more about ASAB? What is this - a song from the seventies of the groupThe 4-Skins, however, most of the listeners managed to forget this rather noisy composition.
The abbreviation is also found in modern rapper, punk and other protest compositions that promote personal freedom on the verge and beyond permissiveness.
ACAB with us
Creators of graffiti wall compositions in our country often use these letters to enhance the dramatic effect of their works. In the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the countries that were formed on its ruins, the relationship between hooligans and the police was also not easy, which found a wide variety of expressions, from inscriptions on the corners of houses to tattoos. Esoteric abbreviations appeared, understandable only to the "initiates", former prisoners and those who were explained their meaning. And given the ever deeper penetration of the English language into our everyday speech, one should not be surprised that instead of the phrase “All the cops are Kazly!” some ardent young man - a football fan - having served a fifteen-day administrative sentence for hooliganism, scribbles four Latin letters ACAB on the wall. What this means, he may not reproduce verbatim in the language of Shakespeare, but he will convey the meaning in his own words.
